Close Menu
The Coast Times Digital

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

    What's Hot

    Kwale residents demand accountability from elected leaders over unfulfilled promises

    July 16, 2025

    Coastal Kenya Rises as a Cradle of Cinematic Talent Through Film Festivals

    July 14, 2025

    Lamu Official’s Recognition at Global Science Summit Signals Rise of Grassroots Innovation

    July 14, 2025
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Trending
    • Kwale residents demand accountability from elected leaders over unfulfilled promises
    • Coastal Kenya Rises as a Cradle of Cinematic Talent Through Film Festivals
    • Lamu Official’s Recognition at Global Science Summit Signals Rise of Grassroots Innovation
    • Succession Feud: Brothers, Stepmother Clash Over multi-billion Vast Estate
    • Kwasasi Farmers Demand Urgent NLC Intervention Over Alleged Loss of 70,000 Acres to LAPSSET
    • Arts for Change: Coastal Schools Lead Peace Program Through Poetry and Drama  
    • 85 billions shillings Gateway Bridge risks stalling over unresolved land disputes in Likoni
    • Doctors’ Strike Called Off After Return-to-Work Agreement with Kwale County Government
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    The Coast Times DigitalThe Coast Times Digital
    • Home
    • Features
    • Politics

      Kwale residents demand accountability from elected leaders over unfulfilled promises

      July 16, 2025

      Lamu Official’s Recognition at Global Science Summit Signals Rise of Grassroots Innovation

      July 14, 2025

      Succession Feud: Brothers, Stepmother Clash Over multi-billion Vast Estate

      July 11, 2025

      Kwasasi Farmers Demand Urgent NLC Intervention Over Alleged Loss of 70,000 Acres to LAPSSET

      July 10, 2025

      85 billions shillings Gateway Bridge risks stalling over unresolved land disputes in Likoni

      July 8, 2025
    • Typography
    • Science

      Spike in Maternal Deaths Sparks Alarm in Kwale

      June 22, 2025

      Relief for hydrocele patients and expectant mothers in need of surgical services in Mkongani, Matuga sub county

      June 10, 2025

      NCBA marks World Environment Day with mangrove drive and cleanup in Kwale to combat plastic pollution

      June 7, 2025

      Greening Hope: How Patanani Farmers Are Restoring Their Land and Lives

      May 23, 2025

      Governments urged to focus on the proper treatment of Female Genital Schistosomiasis disease 

      May 23, 2025
    • Opionion/Commentary
    • Contact Us
    The Coast Times Digital
    Home»Politics»Kwale»A glitter of hope for Kwale youths
    Kwale

    A glitter of hope for Kwale youths

    Coast Times DigitalBy Coast Times DigitalFebruary 24, 2023Updated:February 24, 2023No Comments37 Views
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Tumblr Email
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    By Hellen Awino

    A section of youth in Kwale County have embraced technical and manual jobs in a bid to earn a decent living and avoid involvement in criminal gangs and drug abuse.

    At Josef Seibel Africa LTD in Mvindeni, Msambweni Sub- County, ninety percent of the workforce is youth.

    Josef Seibel is a shoe manufacturing company with a base in Germany.

    The factory set foot in Mvindeni at the height of the Corona pandemic in 2020 that had engulfed the world leaving many destitute and without jobs.

    Many unskilled young men and women got the opportunity to join the factory and get on-job training.

    Most of those who got the chance had just lost jobs in the hotel industry which was facing tribulations during the pandemic.

    According to the factory’s chief operations officer Tom Gichangi, a large number of the employees currently working there had zero experience in shoe making.

    “The training that we offer to our new staff who have no experience in shoe making is skewed in a way that we will achieve our targeted global market” said Gichangi.

    The factory is currently producing 500 pairs of shoes per day.

    In line with the government’s policy of certifying unskilled workers in the jua kali sector through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) program, the factory is also giving certification to its staff.

    The program is regulated by the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA).

    “We are the first shoe making company in Kenya to enroll our staff in the program. We already have ten workers who have received the RPL certification” Gichangi added.

    Mwanamkuu Juma is in the skiving section of the factory.

    She has a certificate in mechanical engineering but had not acquired any skill in shoe making before joining the factory.

    During the corona pandemic, she says, she was among those whose businesses were affected.

    “Since I was at home doing nothing, I applied for the vacancy when the factory started. I was lucky to get the chance” she notes.

    Once new unskilled staff join the factory, they are undertaken through the training for a period between two weeks to two months.

    “Before I joined here, I had no idea how shoes are made. From the training, I now know the shoes are manufactured from the setting stage up to the finishing stage” Said Mwanamkuu.

    We met another staff member, Mohammed Gaatu, who joined the factory in October 2022.

    Like all other workers, Gaatu had no experience in shoe manufacturing.

    He says after the on-job training he can confidently do ninety nine percent of the duties he is assigned.

    “I just used to wear many types of shoes but I knew nothing about how they are made. When I came here it was hard at first but with the training I have acquired I am able to do all the work I have been allocated” he said.

    Being engaged in such jobs, Gaatu says will solve many challenges that face young people in the streets.

    “It is not a must that you attain high education. Even if you don’t become a professor, do not despise a job like this. It will help you earn a good living without involving yourself in immoral activities” added Gaatu.

    The Mvindeni factory has a workforce of 120 workers

    “Jua kali sector has many opportunities for the youth and we have to embrace the technical courses” said Mwanasiti Kassim.

    To feed the shoe market in the country, Josef Seibel has continued to open outlets for the ROMIKA and Josef Seibel shoe brands.

    The latest shop was opened in Nairob’s Windsor House.

    “We are bringing to the Kenyan market the same quality, fitting and designs as we have elsewhere in the world. Nairobi is where most middle- and upper-class populations live and where we also have big multinational organizations including the UN headquarters,” said Josef Siebel Africa, Chairman, Carl-August Seibel during the opening of the Nairobi shop.

    He said that they want to show that good quality shoes can be made and sold in Kenya.

    “The shoes we are doing here are distributed to at least 20 countries in the US, Europe and Canada. You can be proud as Kenyans that this is possible in a short time.” He noted.

    German Ambassador to Kenya, Sebastian Groth termed the investment another big step for Germany and Kenya and adds to the total 120 German companies in the country.

    “Germany will in the future look more and more interested towards Africa and Kenya especially in regards to investment and economic relations. We are ready to open a new chapter in our relations this year to mark our 60th anniversary of Kenya-German relations,” said Groth.

    Eighty percent of the raw materials used in the factory are sourced locally.

     

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Telegram Email
    Coast Times Digital
    • Website
    • Facebook
    • X (Twitter)

    Coast Times Digital is a news hub that bring to you information across the Coastal region and beyond in a manner that is guided by the editorial rules and laws.

    Related Posts

    Kwale residents demand accountability from elected leaders over unfulfilled promises

    July 16, 2025

    Coastal Kenya Rises as a Cradle of Cinematic Talent Through Film Festivals

    July 14, 2025

    Lamu Official’s Recognition at Global Science Summit Signals Rise of Grassroots Innovation

    July 14, 2025
    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Top Posts

    Kwale County-based People Daily Journalist quits media to join the office of the government spokesperson

    January 24, 2024937

    Kwale magistrate order Diani OCS to investigate Diani DCI “money for freedom” claims by suspected Panga boys criminals.

    April 1, 2025863

    The untold story of Nyari sisal estate in Samburu-Chengoni, Kwale County

    March 26, 2024635

    BREAKING NEWS! Kilifi Blue economy chief officer allegedly stabbed to death by house maid

    July 20, 2023628
    Don't Miss
    Kwale

    Kwale residents demand accountability from elected leaders over unfulfilled promises

    By Coast Times DigitalJuly 16, 2025120

    BY SHABAN OMAR A section of Kwale residents has called on elected leaders to fulfil…

    Coastal Kenya Rises as a Cradle of Cinematic Talent Through Film Festivals

    July 14, 2025

    Lamu Official’s Recognition at Global Science Summit Signals Rise of Grassroots Innovation

    July 14, 2025

    Succession Feud: Brothers, Stepmother Clash Over multi-billion Vast Estate

    July 11, 2025
    Stay In Touch
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • Vimeo

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest creative news from SmartMag about art & design.

    About

    SHIMBA HILLS MEDIA NETWORK
    P.o Box 351,80403, Kwale Tel: +254 734 869440
    Email: info@coasttimesdigital.com

    © {2022} Coast Times Digital.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.